Garment spotting machine



March 2, 1954 i Y w, C, GLQVER, JR 2,670,621

GARMENT sPoTTING MACHINE Filed Maron 18, 195o s sheets-sheet 1 March 2,1954 w. c. sLovl-zR, JR

GARMENT SPOTTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 18, 1950 INVENTOR.W/Y//d/r? 6. 670g; .//r

Arme/v March 2, 1954 w. c. GLovER, JR

GARMENT SPOTTING MACHINE Filed March 18, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTO'R. MV//am 6', /WJ/J BY j. ff!

Patented Mar. 2, 1954 GARMENT sPoTTING MACHINE William CfGlover, Jr.,Kansas City, Mo., assigner to Bill Glover Incorporated, a Acorporationof :Missouri ApplicationMarch, 1950,Serial No. 150,504

12 claims. golpes-'5) 'The present-invention relatesin ygeneral to theremoval o f spots from fabrics and'itdeals more particularly with thelconstruction of an improved spotting machine tobeused for this purpose.

It is the object'oi the invention broadly speaking to provide amachinewhich` places at the disposal of its operatormeans for dealingwith practically every kind of spot or Vstain encountered in laundry anddry cleaning practice, a V machine which majkes possible the removal -oi'all such spots in the most expeditious and satisfactory manner.

'Another vObject ofthe invention is toprovide at leastfone work surfacewhich isrforaminous and has means for drawing a suction therethrough,which suction means is automatically rendered eiective when the surfaceis put into use and rendered inactive when the `use is discontinued. Acollateral object is to provide a work surfacewhich is adjustablein-position to suit the convenienceof the operator and also is shiftableinto and out of workingpo'sition.

Another object of my invention Iis-to provide `a spotting machine havingfacilities fortreating a fabric disposed on vany work surface with drysteam, wet steam, cold water or hotair at will. More particularly-itisanobject toprovidea` gun operable at will to discharge a spray of'cold-water, and a secondgun lsel -zctively operable' to discharge drysteam, lwetvsteam or hot air. Inthecase-of all yof these luids it is anaim of the invention to make the rate or pressure of discharge readilycontrollable.

Still another object is to providefaspotting 4machine having -means 'for:generating from steam its owncold water for theftreatment-'ofthermosettin-g water solublespots, therebyeliminating the need for laseparate, external water `supply line.

Yet another object is to provide a machine-oi the character indicated'having means ffacilitat-I ing the cleaning of Avarious parts-which `inthe course oi? normal use collect lint, sediment and other "foreignmatter.

Other and further objects, together .with the features of noveltywhereby the objects are achieved, will Aappear in the course oftheiollow-v ing description of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings which vform a part of the specication andare `to be read conjunction therewith, and in which like refer-y encenumerals are employed to indicate likeparts of thevarious views Fig. lis a` front perspective view -of 'my improved garment 'spotting machina,Fig.j 2 -is a kplan view. of `the machine,

i'lEigiB'is anenlarged cross sectional view taken along theline kSiofFig. 2 in the directionpf the arrows,

`Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical cross section taken alone theplane 4-4oiFig. 1 in the direction .0i the arrows,

.Fig..5 is a horizontal cross section takenalong the line 5-75 o f'Fig4,

Flei iS an .enlarged fragmentary cross ,section taken along the line 6-6of Fig. 2 thedirection of the arrows,

Fig. '7 is .a vertice-1 cross section taken along the lline 1-1 oi'Fig..,2.,

Fig. .8 is `an .enlarged sectional elevation taken along the line 8 8 ofFig. 1 in thedirectionzof the arrows, and

Fig. 9 is a, schematicdiagram of the air-water-V steam Yand vacuumsystem employed in. my machine.

In generahmymachine ycomprises Aa base il) having uprightsY which carrya chemicaltray H, a small spotting-table l2, a larger spotting Vtabile|13 and a basket I4. Asmay be appreciated from Figs. 1 and 2, thelargerspottingvtable `(which hereinafter will sometimes be referred toasthe main table) is spaced above the basket Withits center line normallyslightly'iorward of the center line of the basket, that is tosay,slightly nearer the operator; the smaller spotting table (which willsometimes be referred to as the auxiliary table) is positioned aboveiandrearwardlyof the main table, while-the chemical tray is vabove andbehind the auxiliary table in stair step `relationship.

'Considering the construction more in detail, ythe, base i9 is T-shapedhaving a tubular stem lila extending longitudinally of the machine andjoined -at one end to the mid portion of a narrow crosswise housing wb.Holes idc provided at the. extremities-of these members make it possiblelto bolt or otherwise secure the base to the floor.

A hollow pedestal i6 extends vertically from the base and has telescopedinto its upper end a post il which carries the main spotting table i3.The upper portion of the hollow pedestal is slit longitudinally to forma clamping collarand is provided with outturned ears I8 oneither lsidevelevationmost convenient'ior the operator and.

may be locked in adjusted position by'lever '19.

The main table has a horizontal heel section 2i preferably formed of animperforate siab of hard material which is highly resistant to thecorrosive action of the chemicals used in the spotting operation. At theend of this is a tapered upwardly pitched nose section comprising a pan22 with a foraminous cover 23 of stainless steel or the like.

As best seen in Fig. 7, the cover is held in place on the pan by apairof crossed straps 24 located on its underside,; these straps, eachbent to form a shallow V, are secured at their ends to the margin of theforaminous cover, and at their intersection, have a welded on nut 25adapted to receive a threaded stem extending through the bottom of thepan from knob 2E. By turning this knob to unscrew the threadedconnection, the cover may be easily removed when desired to clean thepan of the lint, etc., carried thereinto in the normal use of themachine. The lowermost end of the pan is provided with a drain outlet 28communicating with the pipe 29 which runs under the heel section of thetable and connects to a flexible hose 3@ leading to any suitable pointof discharge.

Basket I4 comprises a generally oval panel 32 of canvas, or othersuitable fabric, suspended rather loosely in hammock fashion from anopen frame loop 33 whose ends are secured to a split collar 34encircling post l1. The collar is slidable up and down the post toadjust the elevation of the basket relative the main spotting table, andby means of lever 35, one end of which is screw threadedly connected tolugs on the Split collar, the latter may be clamped tightly to the postto hold the basket in any selected position.

It is the function of the basket to receive depending portions of agarment being treated, thus to keep same off the floor and out of theway of the operator. As previously noted, the center line of the basketpreferably is located rearwardly of the center line of the main spottingtable (see Fig. 2) and it will be observed from Fig. 1 that the rearedge of the basket is somewhat higher than the forward edge, it havingbeen found that this arrangement is best suited to catching garmentsduring the manipulation thereof; at the same time it leaves a wideopening below the main table on the operator side of the machine topermit the operator easily to reach any depending portion of a garmentin order to shift same to the top of the table.

The chemical tray ll and the auxiliary spotting table l2 are supportedon an upright tubular housing 33 that also functions as a steamseparator as will be explained presently. This housing is spacedrearwardly of the pedestal i6 and is connected thereto by a cross brace3S. As best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, a lug c@ extends forwardly fromhousing 38 and carries a bearing sleeve 4 I In the latter sleeve is afreely rotatable post 42 carrying at its upper end a horizontal pipe 43which in turn supports the auxiliary table I2. A lever arm i5 isattached to post 42 by means of a collar 4S having thumb screws thecollar resting upon the upper end of the sleeve and forming an endbearing to support the post. By loosening the thumb screws, post 2 canbe adjusted up or down reiative the collar in order to adjust theelevation of the auxiliary spotting table.

The forward end of pipe 453 opens into a shale low, sloping pan 69 whichis covered by a fo-v raminous oval plate or screen 50; the opposite endof the pipe connects to a flexible hose 5i leading to any suitable pointof discharge. Extending along the top of pipe 63 from the perfcrate noseand secured to the pipe is an imperforate table 52 preferably formed ofhard, corrosion resistant material similar to that employed for slab 2i.

Post Q2 being rotatable in sleeve fil, it will be clear that pipe d3 andthe auxiliary spotting table i2 are free to swing in a horizontal plane.A stop shoulder 53 (Fig. 5) on arm G5 limits its rearward travel but thetable can be drawn forward froafn its rearrnost position as shown bydotted lines in Fig. 2. When it is thus drawn forward, arm 45, ofcourse, swings with the table and by means of link 54 opens valve 5E fora purpose presently to be described.

Returning now to the steam separator, this, as previously indicated,comprises a vertically elongated tubular housing Sil, the housing being'closed at the bottom by a plug 55 and having a steam valve 5'! screwedinto the top. Steam is admitted into the separator from a supply line 5Sand below the steam inlet e9 is a water overflow outlet Si) connected byline 64 to a suitable drain. A conventional trap 62 is pro vided in thelatter line to prevent loss of steam therethrough. It will be understoodthat due to the extended surface of housing 38 that is exposed toambient air, a portion of the steam admitted to the separator condenses,maintaining the separator filled with distilled water 53 to the level ofthe overow outlet; above the surface of the water is steam, of course,the steam .in the uppermost portion of the separator being substantiallyfree from entrained moisture and hence referred to as di-y.

The steam supply line is connected to the separator via a heat exchangerhaving a housing 6e through which a steam tube S5 extends, this ingthrough this passageway when the valve is opened, is heated by fins,which, it will be understood, are heated by the steam within tube S5.The spiral disposition of the fins providea relatively long heatedpassageway in a short space and obtain maximum heat transfer to the air.

The outlet from steam valve 58 has a T fitting B9 screwed thereinto andone branch of the T is connected by a pipe H3 to the outlet from the airvalve S8. The other branch vof the T is connected to a hose 'H extendingto a spotting gun i2; as shown, this gun has an open discharge nozzle'32a supported by a ventilated handle.

Both valves are normally closed and it will be seen from the foregoingthat both have their outlets connected to the spotting gun via hose 'II. Air valve 68 can be opened vunder control of the foot pedal i3 which,by means of a shaft extending through base member ma, rotates a crankarm 7e; this exerts a thrust on the rod I5 which in turn pivots leverand opens the valve. Pedal 'is through the medium of a hollow shaft '9turns a similar crank when the pedal is depressed and thus exerts athrust on rod EG to control steam valve 5T.

The particular construction of the valves employed in my machine form nopart of the present invention and hence they have not been detailedf isused again to remove excess moisture. The latter technique has theadvantage that it tends to drive any loosened sizing toward the centerof the spot where it is flushed through rather than driving it towardthe rim of the spot where it tends to pile up and leave a ring. Also thespot is confined to its own area, and spreading o1' splattering iseliminated. Use of the vacuum nose 50 likewise is valuable in preventingspreading of stains or moisture.

Using my apparatus, steam spotting may be carried out with excellentresults even on velvets, plush, suede cloth, duvetyn, corduroy and othernappy materials which heretofore could not be treated satisfactorily;badly water stained or heavily sized rayons likewise can be spotted verysuccessfully.

As previously indicated, drying of the spotted area can be completed bymeans of hot air delivered through gun l2. This may be used either inconjunction with the foraminous nose section 23 of the main spottingtable, or the vacuum nose section 50 of the auxiliary table. Used withthe latter, drying is almost instantaneous and will absolutely preventwater rings so that the need for very careful feathering is largelyeliminated and the speed of handling correspondingly increased.

An important feature of my invention resides in the provisions made forholding guns i2 and 9@ Where they are at all times readily available tothe operator and may be put into use for the foregoing purposes with aminimum of manual movement; the guns also are arranged to return totheir rest positions almost automatically in readiness for subsequentuse so no lost motion on the part of the operator is involved.

In the case of water spray gun Sii, the support comprises a rod S5extending upwardly from one corner of the chemical tray, the upper endof the rod being bent over and provided with a hook to receive adepending coiled spring 9"! which in turn carries the gun. When not inuse, the gun thus is held out of the way of all operations carried on orin connection with the spotting tables. When needed, it may be graspedby the operator, drawn down to operating position, thus stretching thespring 9i which automatically restores it to rest position when it isreleased by the operator after use. out of the way during use andpermits free manipula-tion of the water spray gun. The steam and hot airgun 7 2 is supported below the level of the main spotting table (andhence also out of the way), by means of a spring loop 98- whose endsextend laterally and are welded or otherwise secured to the rim 33 ofbasket Ui. Hose 1I is threaded through the loop and is encircled,adjacent the handle of gun l2, wth a hemispherical bumper or bushing B9formed of soit rubber of similar resilient cushioning material. Thebumper normally rests on the top of the loop and the weight of the hosebelow the loop serves to hold the gun upright so it may be graspedeasily. When the gun is lifted for use, the hose obviously is drawnupwardly through the eye formed by the spring loop. After use theoperator simply drops the gun in a generally vertical direction towardthe loop whereupon, due to the hose being threaded through the loop andhaving the major portion of its weight below the loop, the gunautomatically is drawn and guided back to the correct rest position. Thesoft resilient characterof bumper 99 plus the spring construction ofthelloop serve to cushion the blow 'of stopping The spring keeps hose 93t Cil d the gun and thus prevent iniury'to'the gn'and the support.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my invention is one well adaptedto attain all of the ends and objects hereinbefore set forth togetherwith other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to theapparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinaticns are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of theappended claims.

Inasmuch as various modications of the invention may be made withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matterherein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a machine of the kind described, a support, a foraminous tablepivotally mounted on said support to swing in a generally horizontalpla-no, said table having a duct whose'mouth opens upwardly and isconnected to the underside of said table, suction means connected tosaid duct, a control device normally rendering said suction meansinoperative, and linkage between said table and device for actuatingsaid device responsive to swinging of said table cn said support torender said suction means operative thereby to create a downdraitthrough said foraminous table.

2. In a machine of the kind described, a support, a foraminous tablemovably mounted on said support, a duct having at one end an upwardlyopening mouth whose margin is connected to the underside of the saidtable, a huid injector nozzle connected into said duct and directedtoward the opposite end thereof, a source of fluid i? under pressure, asupply line from said source to said nozzle, a valve in said line, andlinkage between said table and valve for opening and closing said valveresponsive to movements of said table relative to said support.

3. In a machine of the kind described, a support, a foraminous tablemovably mounted on said support, a duct having at one end an upwardlyopening mouth whose margin is connected to the underside of said table,suction means connected to said duct, a valve controlling said suctionmeans, and linkage between said table and valve for opening and closings'aid valve responsive to movements of said table relative to saidsupport.

4. In a garment spotting machine, a support having a stationary verticalsleeve, a post rotatable and axially movable in said sleeve. a collarencircling the post above the sleeve and adjustable axially of the post,means for securing said collar to the post in any adjusted positionthereon, a table iixedly mounted on the upper end of the post andeffective by its weight to maintain the collar in abutting relation withthe upper end of the sleeve whereby the elevation of said table isdetermined by the position of the collar on the post, a lever armextending laterally `from said collar and adapted when the collar islocked to the post to turn with the post upon swinging of the table in ahorizontal arc about the axis of said sleeve, a valve mounted on saidsupport, linkage between said arm and valve for operating the valve uponmovement of said arm, said table comprising a ioraminous generallyhorizontai panel having a duct whose mouth opens upwardlyand isconnected around its marginl to the' underside oftne panel, and suctionmeans connected to sadduct and controlled-by said valve.

5. In a garment spotting machine, a support having a stationary verticalsleeve, a post rotatableandfaxially movable in ,saidzsleevaa collarencircling the post above the 4sleeve andadjust'- able axiallyy of thepost, meansrfor securingisaid collar to thepost in any adjusted positionthereon, a table xedly mountedonlthe upper end-,of

the .post and effective by itsweight to Vmaintain i the collar` inabutting relation with the: upper end of the. sleeve whereby theelevation of said table is determined by the position of the colla-ron'thepost, a' lever armi extendinglaterally from saidfcoliar andadapted whenthe. collarfisjlocked toy thezpost to turn with the postuponswinging oi"t the table in a horizontal are about the axist of said.sleeve, a fluid conduit containing fa flow'- controlling valve ymountedin n xed relation, to said support, and linkage between said arm andvalve for operatingthe valve upon movement of said arm.

6. In a spotting machine, a stationary support, a foraminous tablemovably mounted on said support to swing in a generally horizontalplane, a

duct having at one end ran upwardly opening mouth whose margin isconnected to the underside of the table, a nozzle connected into saidduct and directed toward the opposite end thereof, a closed vessel, asource of steam under pressure connected into said vessel, said vesselhaving an extended exterior heat radiating surface to cause condensationof steam entering the vessel from said source, a condensate outlet linecommunicating with said vessel at the bottom thereof, a steam injectorconnected to the other end of said line for imposing suction thereon, asteam supply line extending from said steam source to said injector, avalve in said last line, mechanism connected to said table for openingand closing said Valve responsive to swinging of said table on thesupport thereby to cause said injector to impose outlet line betweensaid vessel and said injector. I

8. In a spotting machine, a closed vessel, a source of steam underpressure connected into said vessel, said vessel having an extended'exterior heat radiating surface to cause condensation of steam enteringthe vessel from said source, a condensate outlet line communicating withsaid vessel at the bottom thereof, a steam injector connected to theother end of said line for imposing suction thereon, a steam supply linefrom said steam source to said injector, a valve in said last line, astationary support, a pan movably mounted on said support, linkagebetween said pan and said valve for opening and closing the valveresponsive to movement of the pan relative to said support thereby tocause said injector to impose suction on said condensate lineintermittently, a foraminous cover over said pan, said pan having anoutlet opening below its upper rim, and a second injector associatedwith said outlet opening and connected to the discharge of said rstinjector for creating a down draft through said foraminous cover intosaid pan when said valve is open.

9. In a spotting machine, a, closed vessel, a source of steam underpressure connected into lid.

said vessel; said vessel having anl extended-exterior heat radiatingsurface to causeconden'saftionorsteamienteringthe'vessel from saidsource; ine-ans limiting the maximum levelthat '-saidi con'- densate can'attain in the vessel thereby "to pro'- vide 'aj steam space the vesselabove the'sure face or the condensata a A'condensate outlet: linecommunicating with said vessel at the bottom thereof, a steammjectcrconnect-ed tothe other end or said: line for imposing suctionthereon, a steam supply -line from said steam sourcetossaidinjector, avvalve in said last line;v alrstationary support, a tab'lepivotallymounted onsa'id" supe port toV swing agenerally' horizontal plane;linkageY between said table and said valveV vfor open'ng and closing thevalve1 responsive to swinging of the table thereby to cause said-inejector to impose suction on said: condensate line mtermittently, asteamoutletlineextending from said steam space in the vessel `and havinga'di'se' chargeino'zale' at the-end thereof, and a valve in said lastline to control the flow of steam therethrough, at least part of saidlast line being flexible to permit movement' of said nozzle relativetosaid table.

10. A spotting machine as in claim 9, wherein said vessel is verticallyelongated, a stationary base secured to the lower end of said vessel andsupporting same in upright position, said support for said pivotal tablebeing secured to the upper portion of said vessel whereby said table iscarried by said vessel.

l1. In a spotting machine, a stationary base, a vertically elongatedclosed vessel extending upwardly from said base and forming a post, atable pivotally mounted on said post above the base to swing in agenerally horizontal plane, a source.

of steam under pressure connected into the vessel, said vessel having anextended exterior heat radiating surface to cause condensation of steamentering the vessel from said source, means limiting the maximum levelthat the condensate can attain in the vessel thereby to provide a steamspace in the vessel above the surface of the condensate, a steam outletline from the steam space in the vessel having a nozzle at the endthereof, means including a mixing valve associated with said line forcontrolling the steam ow therethrough to the nozzle and for optionallyintroducing condensate into said steam flow to temper the steam, atleast part of said line being flexible to permit movement of said nozzlerelative to the table, said table comprising a foraminous generallyhorizontal panel with a duct having at one end an upwardly opening mouthwhose margin is connected to the underside of said panel, an injectornozzle connected into said duct and directed toward the opposite endthereof, a line from said steam source to said injector nozzle, a valvein said last line, and linkage between said table and said last valvefor opening and closing said last valve responsive to swinging of saidtable on said post.

12. In a spotting machine, a stationary base, a vertically elongatedclosed vessel extending upwardly from the base and forming a post, atable pivotally mounted on said post above the base to swing in agenerally horizontal plane, a source of steam under pressure connectedinto the vessel, said vessel having an extended exterior heat radiatingsurface to cause condensation of steam entering the vessel from saidsource, means limiting the maximum level that the condensate can attainin the vessel thereby to provide a steam space in the vessel above thesurface of the con- 11 densate, a steam outlet line extending from thesteam space in the Vessel and having a steam discharge nozzle at the endthereof, a condensate outlet line extending from the lower portion ofthe vessel and having a condensate discharge nozzle at the end thereof,valves in the respective lines to control the flow therethrough to saidnozzles, said lines being exible to permit movement of the nozzlesrelative to said table, said table comprising a foraxninous generallyhorizontal panel with a duct having at one end thereof an upwardlyopening mouth whose margin is connected to the underside of said panel,an injector nozzle connected into\said duct and directed toward theopposite end thereof, a line from said steam source to said injectornozzle, a Valve in said last line, and linkage between said table andsaid last valve for opening and closing said last valve responsive toswinging of said table on said post.

WILLIAM C. GLOVER, JR.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date Koelsch May 30, 1876 Cox July 5, 1927 Betke Dec. 17, 1929Conley Aug. 22, 1933 Morken Sept. 26, 1939 Whisenhunt Oct. 29, 1940Goodwin Apr. 14, 1942 Cissell Apr. 18, 1944 Glover, Jr Nov. 28, 1944Weber et al. Dec. 25, 1945 Goodwin Jan. 13, 1948 Goodwin Feb. 3, 1948Castoe July 6, 1948 Yanchenko July 20, 1948 Glover, Jr. Aug. 23, 1949

